Joe Dumars returned from the injured list to score 16 points,
including two clutch jumpers, and Lindsey Hunter made a key
defensive play in the final seconds as the Detroit Pistons dealt
the shorthanded Atlanta Hawks their second straight loss, 87-85.

Brian Williams scored 10 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter
for the Pistons, who won for just the third time in 11 games and
handed the Hawks their first loss in six Central Division games.

Christian Laettner scored 25 points and Dikembe Mutombo added 19
and 12 rebounds for Atlanta, which has lost two in a row after
winning its first 11 games to open the season. For the second
straight game, the Hawks were without Steve Smith and Alan
Henderson, both sidelined with injuries.

"I'm happy with our effort but not happy about losing," Hawks
coach Lenny Wilkens said. "Anytime you have key guys out, it's
tough. We got ourselves in a hole early, we didn't get any
offensive production off the bench and that's what we need.
We'll get better as we go along."

Dumars had yet to finish a game this season, pulling a hamstring
in the season opener and missing four games, then suffering a
shoulder injury and sitting out six more. He was 6-of-13 from
the field and saved his biggest shots for the stretch.

"We needed this," Pistons coach Doug Collins said. "Joe Dumars
gave us a great lift tonight. I went to him this morning and I
said, 'Joe, we need you. We would never ask you to play and
jeopardize your career, but we really need you tonight. We need
you to give us some stability and some confidence.' He was
magnificent for us."

The Pistons were clinging to a 77-75 lead when Dumars drilled a
jumper with 4:03 to go. He made another 52 seconds later to
build the lead to six points.

"It was good to get back on the court and direct the guys, just
kind of get 'em where they're supposed to be and get a win,"
Dumars said. "It took the pressure off Grant (Hill). He didn't
have to handle the ball so much. I told him to get down on the
baseline, work those guys, and do what you do best."

The Hawks clawed back, cutting the deficit to 85-83 on a basket
by Laettner with 35 seconds left. Detroit's Malik Sealy made
two free throws with 11 seconds to go, but Mookie Blaylock sank
a driving layup with 4.7 seconds remaining and Dumars missed two
free throws.

Atlanta had a final chance, but Hunter deflected Tyrone Corbin's
inbounds pass and time ran out.

Grant Hill had 19 points and nine assists for the Pistons, who
shot 51.5 percent (34-of-66) from the field. Williams grabbed
eight rebounds.

"We came out and played well," Hill said. "We've felt confident
and we had been struggling as of late as everyone knows. We
just wanted to come out, have fun, play hard and play together,
and support each other and we did that."

Blaylock scored 16 points and Corbin added 11 for the Hawks, who
shot 45 percent (32-of-71) and held a 34-28 edge in rebounds.
Atlanta beat Detroit 82-71 on November 4th.

Smith, who starts at guard, sat out with lower back spasms and
Henderson, a forward and top reserve, has a sprained right ankle.

Laettner scored eight points in the third period, when the Hawks
held the Pistons to 14 points and pulled into a 58-58 tie
entering the final quarter. A basket by Mutombo gave Atlanta a
72-71 lead, but Aaron McKie scored to give the Pistons the lead
for good at 73-72 with 7:06 remaining.

Laettner scored 11 points in the first quarter, which ended with
Detroit holding a 26-25 lead. Dumars scored seven points in the
second quarter, when the Pistons allowed just 12 and opened a
44-37 halftime advantage.

"Two of our better players are out," Laettner said. "We had a
chance tonight. We just came out a little flat. We have to play
better at the beginning than down the stretch. We came up a
little short."